Trypsin and DNase digestion technique has become a retinal digestion technique for studying diabetic retinopathy. We tried osmotic digestion method with DNase and compared the quality of preparation of retina and microvascular change with trypsin digestion in normal and diabetic rats. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were sacrificed at 9, 18, 27weeks in 6 rats. Right retinas were digested with 3% trypsin while left wer digested with 0.1% DNase. For control, 18 normal rats were sacrificed at the same time. DNase was superior to trypsin for retinal preparation on the stainability, the degree of separating nonvascular fissue from vascular net, the degree of preservation of vascular net in normal & diabetic rats. In diabetic rats, the number of pericyte decreased significantly with age, which not in normal rats(p=0.0023) We suggest DNase digestion technique as an new alternative for trypsin digestion technique in the study of microvascular change of diabetic retinopathy.
Animals ; Deoxyribonucleases* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Digestion* ; Endothelial Cells ; Microvessels* ; Pericytes ; Rats* ; Retina ; Retinaldehyde* ; Trypsin*

Recently refractive corneal surgery has been increasing and intraocular lens implantation is a routine procedure during cataract surgery. Many people have various activities in the evening such as night driving, thus it may be very important measuring the pupil size in the dark in determining the size of the optical zone. We measured pupil size of sixty normal adult candidates in darkness of 0, 20, 60, 100 lux and also in the bright illumination of 200 lux for comparison using near lens camera and slide film. The pupils became larger with younger age and increased darkness. Pupil Size(log mm) = 4.57 - 0.0388 X Age(year) - 0.005 X Luminance(lux). The average pupil size of all age groups were 7.0mm, 6.56mm, 5.97mm, 5.4mm sequencially in darkness and 4.77mm in brightness(200 lux). The average pupil size of 20~30 year old group who are socially active even at night was 7.18mm and 8.4mm in maximum. This has significant meaning clinically. Additionally the size of pupil became larger with increased corneal diameter and the amount of anisocoria tended to be greater with the increase of the darkness.
Adult* ; Anisocoria ; Cataract ; Darkness ; Humans ; Lens Implantation, Intraocular ; Lighting ; Pupil*

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the effectiveness of endoscopic canaliculodacryocystorhinostomy with two sets of silicone tube intubation in the distal part of canalicular obstruction. METHODS: Endoscopic canaliculodacryocystorhinostomy with double silicone tube intubation was done in 26 patients with canalicular obstruction from January 2002 to December 2002. Probing or trephination was used for recanaliculization of obstructed canaliculi. The silicone tube was left in place for 6 months. RESULTS: The success rate was 76.9% (20 of 26 patients) two months after tube removal. The level of canalicular obstruction or method of bougienage did not affect the success rates. Complications includes granuloma formation (12), synechia of ostium (1), prolepses of tube (2), and acute dacryocystitis(1). CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic canaliculodacryocystorhinostomy with double silicone tube intubation showed a relatively high success rate and was more effective and convenient than conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy with Jones tube.
Granuloma ; Humans ; Intubation* ; Silicones* ; Trephining

This study was performed to investigate the amount of IL-1beta & NO in tear film after Excimer laser PRK and to determine whether NO induces cytotoxicity associated with apoptosis of keratocytes. Twelve myopes underwent PRK and were divided into 3 groups according to spherical equivalent. IL-1beta and NO production were measured at preop and postop 1, 4, 7 days, and expression of NOS and apoptosis of keratocytes were evaluated in the corneas of rats at 2 days after PRK. IL-1beta and NO production were significantly increased at postop 1 day(p<0.01) and then gradually decreased to preop levels at postop 7 days. The corneas of rats at 2 days after PTK revealed increased expression of NOS(iNOS, bNOS) and increased apoptosis of keratocytes in stroma of cornea. The degree of corneal opacity and NO production at postop 1 days were increased, positively correlated to ablation depth. It is suggested that NO production induced by IL-1beta may be related with apoptosis of keratocyte, which can influence on the corneal opacity after PRK.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cornea ; Corneal Opacity ; Interleukin-1beta* ; Lasers, Excimer* ; Nitric Oxide* ; Photorefractive Keratectomy* ; Rats ; Tears*

Purpose: This study examined the evaluation indicators and frameworks for assessing the effectiveness of the Center for Children’s and Social Welfare Foodservice Management. Methods: A qualitative research design was used, including focus group discussions and indepth interviews cond1ucted with 26 stakeholders, such as center staff, community nutrition experts, and performance evaluation specialists. The interviews were recorded with the participants’ consent, and the transcribed data were analyzed using framework analysis to identify key patterns. Results: The findings highlight several critical issues in the current evaluation framework, including over-reliance on satisfaction surveys, insufficient utilization of checklist data, and a lack of long-term outcome measures. The participants recommended improving satisfaction surveys by diversifying the respondents and refining methodologies. Systematic data management was also highlighted as essential, particularly for data collected by center nutritionists during site visits. These data are crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of overseeing and educating cooks and staff in children’s and social welfare facilities. For the long-term outcome indicators, the participants suggested integrating national health datasets to monitor the food consumption patterns, such as fruit and vegetable intake or sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among children, and tracking medical expenses or hospitalization rates for elderly daycare center users. Well-designed intervention studies were recommended to develop more robust evaluation indicators, particularly for assessing the impact of the centers on the health and quality of life of the elderly. Conclusion Therefore, comprehensive and standardized evaluation systems should be implemented to enhance operational efficiency and service quality. The proposed evaluation scheme can better evaluate and support the health and well-being of vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities, by aligning these systems with the centers’ mission of ensuring safe and nutritious food services.

Purpose: This study examined the evaluation indicators and frameworks for assessing the effectiveness of the Center for Children’s and Social Welfare Foodservice Management. Methods: A qualitative research design was used, including focus group discussions and indepth interviews cond1ucted with 26 stakeholders, such as center staff, community nutrition experts, and performance evaluation specialists. The interviews were recorded with the participants’ consent, and the transcribed data were analyzed using framework analysis to identify key patterns. Results: The findings highlight several critical issues in the current evaluation framework, including over-reliance on satisfaction surveys, insufficient utilization of checklist data, and a lack of long-term outcome measures. The participants recommended improving satisfaction surveys by diversifying the respondents and refining methodologies. Systematic data management was also highlighted as essential, particularly for data collected by center nutritionists during site visits. These data are crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of overseeing and educating cooks and staff in children’s and social welfare facilities. For the long-term outcome indicators, the participants suggested integrating national health datasets to monitor the food consumption patterns, such as fruit and vegetable intake or sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among children, and tracking medical expenses or hospitalization rates for elderly daycare center users. Well-designed intervention studies were recommended to develop more robust evaluation indicators, particularly for assessing the impact of the centers on the health and quality of life of the elderly. Conclusion Therefore, comprehensive and standardized evaluation systems should be implemented to enhance operational efficiency and service quality. The proposed evaluation scheme can better evaluate and support the health and well-being of vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities, by aligning these systems with the centers’ mission of ensuring safe and nutritious food services.

Purpose: This study examined the evaluation indicators and frameworks for assessing the effectiveness of the Center for Children’s and Social Welfare Foodservice Management. Methods: A qualitative research design was used, including focus group discussions and indepth interviews cond1ucted with 26 stakeholders, such as center staff, community nutrition experts, and performance evaluation specialists. The interviews were recorded with the participants’ consent, and the transcribed data were analyzed using framework analysis to identify key patterns. Results: The findings highlight several critical issues in the current evaluation framework, including over-reliance on satisfaction surveys, insufficient utilization of checklist data, and a lack of long-term outcome measures. The participants recommended improving satisfaction surveys by diversifying the respondents and refining methodologies. Systematic data management was also highlighted as essential, particularly for data collected by center nutritionists during site visits. These data are crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of overseeing and educating cooks and staff in children’s and social welfare facilities. For the long-term outcome indicators, the participants suggested integrating national health datasets to monitor the food consumption patterns, such as fruit and vegetable intake or sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among children, and tracking medical expenses or hospitalization rates for elderly daycare center users. Well-designed intervention studies were recommended to develop more robust evaluation indicators, particularly for assessing the impact of the centers on the health and quality of life of the elderly. Conclusion Therefore, comprehensive and standardized evaluation systems should be implemented to enhance operational efficiency and service quality. The proposed evaluation scheme can better evaluate and support the health and well-being of vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities, by aligning these systems with the centers’ mission of ensuring safe and nutritious food services.

PURPOSE: To determine the factors leading to the exposure of porous spherical orbital implants (Hydroxyapatite or Medpor(R)) after evisceration. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of evisceration cases with porous spherical orbital implant performed between January 1998 and August 2002 (n=104). Forty-five patients underwent evisceration with Hydroxyapatite implantation and 59 with Medpor(R) implantation. We analyzed the exposure rate by sex, age, size of implant, kind of implant, with or without drilling, preoperative condition of eyeball, and surgeon. RESULTS: Mean follow-up period was 18.1 months. The sex, age, size of implant, drilling, and preoperative eyeball condition showed no statistically significant difference on exposure rate, but Medpor(R) implant showed a higher exposure rate than Hydroxyapatite. The exposure rate of implant between orbital implants was mostly influenced by surgeon. CONCLUSIONS: The exposure rate of implant was mostly influenced by surgeon's factor, indicating that delicate operative technique for evisceration is necessary.
Durapatite ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Orbital Implants ; Retrospective Studies

Anisakiasis is a parasitic disease caused by ingestion of raw fish infected with anisakid larvae. Endoscopic changing patterns of submucosal lesions in chronic gastric anisakiasis have not been known yet. Here we report 4 cases of suspected gastric anisakiasis which were improved during follow-up periods without surgical treatment. The patients presented with abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting after consuming raw marine fish, and visited our gastroenterology outpatient department. Their endoscopic findings showed firm and yellowish submucosal masses accompanied with eccentric erosions. Histologic findings showed severe eosinophilic infiltrations. In blood tests, peripheral eosinophil counts and total IgE levels were elevated. We believed that all cases were caused by larval anisakid infections. The submucosal mass lesions disappeared during the follow-up periods of 2 to 4 mo.
Time Factors ; Stomach Neoplasms/diagnosis/pathology ; Seafood/parasitology ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Larva ; Immunoglobulin E/blood ; Humans ; Follow-Up Studies ; Female ; Eosinophils/cytology ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal/methods ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Chronic Disease ; Anisakiasis/*diagnosis/parasitology ; Animals